Souls Online: Mythic Ascension-Chapter 175: Journey to the Center of the Forest

Lily was a bit on edge while she strolled through the forest. Even as she held Moku in her arms, she couldn’t calm her beating heart.

How could she? She was heading to a random place in the forest alone. She did admit though that the scenery she saw was pretty, and luckily, she did not run into any monsters.

"Seriously though, what kind of maniac would live all the way out here?"

She grumbled in annoyance. She would have much preferred meeting her instructor at a restaurant where she could maybe convince them to buy her food.

Unfortunately, reality was often disappointing. The only bright side to Lily’s experience was that Moku seemed to be pleased with it, his little tail wagging lazily.

Lily sighed and adjusted her grip on Moku, who gave a soft squeak of contentment. At least one of them was enjoying this little nature walk. She wasn’t sure what was worse: the silence of the woods or the occasional rustle in the underbrush that made her jump.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered.

"If this turns out to be some old guy with a beard and riddles, I’m leaving."

The path beneath her feet was uneven, overgrown in places with moss and tiny wildflowers.

Every few steps she glanced around, half expecting something to leap out. Still nothing. No monsters, no creepy hermits, only the sound of birds and wildlife in the distance.

She paused beside a crooked tree and looked up at the sky. The canopy was thick here, letting through only streaks of sunlight that danced across the forest floor. Moku blinked up at the light and gave a soft purring hum.

"You really like this, huh?" she asked, running a hand over his soft green fur.

"You’re lucky you’re cute."

Lily kept walking, the weight of Moku in her arms a small comfort as the forest grew denser around her. The path twisted and narrowed, roots clawing at her boots and low branches tugging at her hair. The air felt thicker here, like the woods themselves were holding their breath.

She brushed a leaf from her shoulder and muttered under her breath,

"If this leads to some moldy shack with a roof falling in, I’m going to scream."

Another few minutes of trudging brought her to an abrupt stop.

The trees ahead parted into a wide clearing. Light spilled through the open sky, illuminating the space with a soft, dreamy glow. In the center stood a single massive tree, easily five times the size of any she had seen before. Its bark shimmered faintly with shades of green and gold, as if the sunlight couldn’t decide how to land on it.

Embedded in the side of the tree was a circular portal. It pulsed gently with a deep green light, the surface of it rippling like disturbed water. Vines framed the edges, blooming with tiny white flowers that looked almost too perfect to be real.

Lily blinked and stared.

"That’s not ominous at all."

Moku let out a low hum, ears perked as he looked at the portal with wide, curious eyes.

Lily stepped forward slowly, brushing a hand against the tall grass at the edge of the clearing. There was no sound here. No birds, no rustling, not even wind. Just the quiet thrumming of the portal and the soft rise and fall of her breathing.

She looked down at Moku.

"Well. I guess this is the place."

He gave a little chirp in response, like he agreed.

Lily sighed and stepped closer to the tree, eyes fixed on the glowing portal.

"If an old guy with a beard jumps out and starts rambling about destiny, I swear I am going to get Luna and the boys to beat him up!"

Her voice echoed faintly in the clearing, swallowed quickly by the stillness. The portal pulsed again, slower this time, like it was waiting.

Lily hesitated at the base of the tree, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She could feel something faint in the air. A pull. Not strong enough to drag her in, but just enough to make her skin prickle.

She reached out a hand toward the portal but stopped short of touching it.

"Okay. Green glowing mystery doorway inside a magic tree. Totally normal. Very safe."

Moku wiggled in her arms, tail flicking as he let out a soft warble. His eyes stayed locked on the portal, and for once he looked serious. Focused. Like he understood what it was.

"You better not know something I don’t," she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

He responded by licking her cheek.

"That’s what I thought."

She took a breath, tightened her grip on him, and stepped right up to the edge of the portal. The surface rippled again, this time sending a faint shimmer of light across the bark of the tree.

Lily reached out and touched it with one finger.

It was cool. Not cold, just... strange. Like water held in place by invisible glass. Her fingertip sank in slightly before she pulled it back with a small gasp.

"Okay. That’s definitely not bark."

She glanced around the clearing one last time, half-hoping someone would jump out and stop her. No one did.

"Guess I’m doing this."

Then, before she could second-guess herself, she stepped through.

She felt like she was falling for a brief second, but she was steady as soon as her feet touched the ground.

Looking around, she found herself in yet another forest. However, this one was different. It was as if the trees themselves were ethereal.

She instinctively reached out to touch one, but it felt like every other tree she had touched in her life.

Feeling a bit stupid, she grumbled,

"When people say to go outside and touch some grass, I am pretty sure this is not what they had in mind."

"Oh my. Seems my guest has arrived."

A soft voice reached Lily’s ears. Whipping her head around, she saw a woman sitting on a log, looking at her warmly.

Yet Lily didn’t approach her, as she could tell whoever this was wasn’t human. After all, what sort of human would have vines for legs?

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l